Over 100 people from the Muthuraja community reportedly stormed the Dalit settlement and launched a coordinated attack.
Published May 06, 2025 | 1:37 PM ⚊ Updated May 06, 2025 | 1:37 PM
A hut was set on fire, the windows and doors of at least ten homes were smashed, and multiple vehicles were set ablaze.
Synopsis: A caste-based clash broke out in the Pudukkottai district of Tamil Nadu, leaving several members of the Dalit community injured. The violence reportedly began during a temple festival celebrated by the Dalit community.
An alleged caste-based clash broke out on the night of Monday, 5 May in Vadakadu village near Alangudi in Tamil Nadu’s Pudukkottai district, leaving several members of the Dalit community injured, who are undergoing treatment at a hospital.
The incident has reignited concerns over simmering caste tensions between the Paraiyar (Dalit) and Muthuraja (Mutharaiyar – Backward Class) communities in the region.
Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front (TNUEF) Pudukkottai District Secretary K Salomi told South First that the clash stemmed from a decades-old rivalry between the communities.
The latest outbreak of violence reportedly began during a temple festival celebrated by the Dalit community on Monday. As part of the festival, they carried ceremonial umbrellas in a traditional procession.
Members of the Muthuraja community allegedly made derogatory comments questioning the right of Dalits to carry umbrellas, provoking a verbal argument. When members of the Dalit community responded, the situation quickly escalated.
Four individuals from the Muthuraja community allegedly returned in vehicles and attacked Dalit residents. In response, residents from the Dalit community stopped the attackers’ vehicles and forced them to leave.
Salomi, who is currently supporting affected families on the ground, said the two communities have a long history of conflict.
“In the 1990s, there was a proposal to construct a police station on land belonging to a temple associated with the Dalit community. Members of the Dalit caste opposed this move. The dispute has remained unresolved in court for decades,” she said.
She added that tensions were further inflamed after members of the Muthuraja community claimed that their playground was located on the same land, escalating the dispute over ownership and access.
Late at night on Monday, over 100 people from the Muthuraja community reportedly stormed the Dalit settlement and launched a coordinated attack.
According to Salomi, a hut was set on fire, the windows and doors of at least 10 homes were smashed, and multiple vehicles were set ablaze. A government bus passing through the area was also vandalised; its windows were shattered during the violence.
Tamil Nadu Law Minister S Regupathy and Tiruchirappalli Range Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) V Varun Kumar visited Vadakadu at midnight to assess the situation.
On 6 May, authorities issued a statement contesting the community-based narrative. They denied that the violence was linked to a temple procession and suggested it stemmed from a personal altercation.
According to the police, “At around 9.30 pm on 5 May, near the Indian Oil Petrol Pump in Vadakadu, a verbal argument broke out between members of the Muthuraja and SC/Paraiyar communities over who would refuel first. This escalated into an exchange of insults before both groups dispersed. Later, two Muthuraja youths followed the SC group into their residential area on motorcycles, which led to a physical confrontation.”
“One thatched-roof house was set on fire, and the windows of a government bus were broken. Preliminary investigations suggest the clash was the result of an alcohol-fuelled argument between youth from both communities,” the police added.
Authorities urged the public to refrain from spreading unverified or misleading information, particularly on social media. They specifically rejected claims that the violence was linked to a religious procession, or that five people were attacked with sickles and a police officer was injured.
The police have warned of legal action against those spreading such rumours. With tensions still running high, state-run bus services through Vadakadu have been suspended.
“Government buses are not operating through the village as a precaution,” said Mohammad Saleem, regional manager of the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation.
In addition, three government-run Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) liquor outlets in Vadakadu and neighbouring villages have been shut temporarily by the district administration.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
